October 29, 2011.
10:04am.
Twenty-one year old Troy Bolton didn't exactly know what he should wear to a job interview. He spent an hour on the phone with Lucille Bolton, his mother. He was going crazy as he stressed over what he should wear and how to match his shirt with his tie and pants perfectly. Lucille stated that he should look professional, but not like he was running the place. He tried to achieve just that.
After trying on three different ties, a red shirt and a black shirt and two pairs of freshly pressed dress pants, he had come to the conclusion that he wanted to give up and just go back to bed.
His oceanic blue eyes stared back at him nervously as he fixed his the solid yellow tie in the mirror of his studio apartment. The image that reflected back at him was a bit smudged since he hadn't remembered the last time he had cleaned his mirror.
Troy Bolton was confident, he believed in himself, but today he was as nervous as he had ever been before. In high school, he had been the basketball star. He brought his team to two championship games in two consecutive years. He didn't have to be nervous about winning those games because he knew exactly what he was doing as he would play the orange ball up and down the court. But fear was invoked in him as he would be put on the spot to answer questions about himself and how well he worked with others.
As his hands finished making adjustments to the third tie he had tried on in the past twenty minutes, he smiled at himself in the mirror. His perfect white teeth smiling back at him. His confidence was back and radiating. He flipped his shaggy brown hair to the right. It landed perfectly just over his eyes. His bright blue orbs glanced at the clock noting that it was already time for him to leave. Troy cursed to himself, he was going to be late for a job he didn't even have yet.
He rushed to put on his shinny dress shoes. His size eleven feet still fit perfectly into the pair of shoes he had had since his grandfather passed away when he was a junior at East High. The black shoes perfected his whole outfit.
He glanced at the clock that sat on the stand next to his unmade bed. The red numbers read 10:11am. Troy cursed again, picking up his relaxed pace as he rushed to put on his over gray coat. One more time looking into the smudged mirror. He was content with how he looked. He flashed himself his smile one more time, his confidence rising again.
The island in the kitchen of his apartment had been holding his car keys. The basketball player reached for them, grabbing them with his right hand, putting them into his pocket safely. He was ready to impress someone today.
October 29, 2011.
10:04am
Gabriella had a French vanilla coffee from Starbucks tucked safely in her right hand as she struggled to open the door to her father's hardware store. She wasn't exactly happy about having to open the shop all by herself today. She was tried, and it was Saturday. This was her sleep till noon and do nothing but watch reruns of favorite sitcom Friends on Netflix day of the weekend. She wanted to rightly live up to that. But no, Carlos wanted her to open the hardware store. She would begin to work around the store before her father would come in the finish what needed to be done on that fateful Saturday morning.
She was dressed in a red shirt that had the logo of the store across the front. She designed the shirts herself. Paired with her red shirt was a pair of fray and ripped jeans, they were neatly tucked into her ankle gray boots that she adored more than anything else in the whole world. Her brown hair laid perfectly curled as it reached the middle of her back. She snuggled up in an oversized gray cardigan that hid the beautiful curves of her Latino body.
As her tiny hands pushed open the door to the hardware store, she immediately punched in the four digit code for the security system. She put down her delicious coffee and began to do her manual routine she had when he opened up the store. The plain white blinds were opened and the sign that had been flipped on the front door of the store was now displayed as open instead of closed.
For a moment, she smiled to herself. She was alone and it was relaxing. Her manicured hand reached for her coffee, it was still hot as she took a small sip from it. Enjoying the delicious taste it left in her mouth. She began to think of when she would open the hardware store in the mornings and Kevin would sneak in to see her, knowing Carlos didn't want Gabriella to be distracted at work. He would bring her thier favorite breakfast and coffee. He would sit next to her, devoting all his attention to trying to distract her. His soft lips would place butterfly kisses on her neck as she would count the inventory of the store. She would always let out her famous giggle as his lips would tickle her sensitive neck.
Gabriella and Kevin had regained their friendship. And she wanted to kick herself in the head for that, continuously. She didn't understand how she could let him back into her life just like that. But he was her best friend since she had been only ten years old. Now she was seven years older and she still hadn't gotten rid of him. She couldn't just shut him out of her life completely. But her suspicions were right, he started talking to Rachel the day after their encounter at the family owned business. She was upset, yes. But she didn't let that bring her down. She told herself everyday, the last words that Kevin said to her before he left that day. "You deserve to be happy."
Gabriella was born and raised in a small town outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. When Gabriella moved to the state of New Mexico when she was just nine years old. After the death of her mother, she and her father moved to be closer to her mother's parents. Her grandparents. She recalled the day she had met Kevin Jordan. She didn't know what she got herself into on that day.
The sun beat down on the hot pavement. It was the middle of July. Every kid's dream, summer. There were plenty of kids playing in their yards and swimming pools, but a ten year old Gabriella rode her brand new birthday present up and down the street of her neighborhood. The black and blue boy bike had matched Gabriella perfectly at the time. She was tom boy. She had scraps on her knees and dirt under her tiny finger nails. Her oversized glasses would fall down her tiny nose all the time. The little girls in her neighborhood didn't find her to be very girly, which is why she wasn't invite her to come to their tea parties or sleepovers. And frankly, Gabriella probably wouldn't have gone.
The small brunette peddled the bike up and down her road. She was surprised when she heard someone call her name. The ten year old pushed up her oversized glassed up so she could see who had been calling her name. It was Ryan Martins. The neighborhood bully. He never bothered her before but somehow she felt a pang in the pit of her stomach as she turned to make eye contact with the bully. He had bright red hair and he was obese for his age group. Gabriella had noticed that he was standing on the sidewalk a few feet away from her, his hands placed on his hips.
"That's a nice bike you have there," The twelve year old said as he stepped down off the curb and started to walk toward the small brunette. The feeling in her stomach growing. She knew something was about to happen and she didn't like it.
"I should get home…" She said not looking the red headed kid in the eyes, trying to make her way past him, pulling her shinny new birthday present next to her. He put his hand up, stopping young Gabriella.
"I don't see that happening, Montez." He stated firmly, pushing the ten year old to the ground, taking the bike right from her hands. She fell the ground, the hot cement catching her fall. She went to stand back up as soon her brand new bike had left her hands. Hearing a voice call from a far, she turned to see an eleven year old standing in the distance. Both the brunette and over powerful bully look to see a boy Gabriella had seen in the neighborhood before. She still didn't know who he was though. She'd only been there for about a month or two. She had just turned ten four days before, and she hadn't got to try out her new bike yet.
"Martins!" Called the unknown person, as he was taking steps toward Gabriella and the bully. As he approached the two, the first thing she noticed about him was his green eyes were enraged. "Leave the new girl alone," He said as he pushed the bully off of the brand new bike Gabriella had received for her birthday, only days before.
"What are you going to do about it, Jordan, huh?" The bully laughed at him pushing the eleven year old back. Gabriella watched the scene unfold. "Is Montez your little girlfriend now?" The obese boy continued to push the green eyed boy.
"She's not my girlfriend," He said in a rage, the green eyed mysterious boy swung his right fist to make contact with the bullies jaw. Instantly, Ryan gripped his jaw and ran away from the green eyed boy and the small ten year old Gabriella.
"I'm Kevin." The green eyed boy said as he reached down to give Gabriella giving her his hand. She took his hand in her own. He helped her back onto her tiny feet.
Meekly, Gabriella replied to the tall, strong boy whose hand she now held. "I'm Gabriella."
"I'm sorry about Ryan Martins, he's a bully. But don't worry. He won't pick on you anymore." Kevin said confidently to the still overwhelmed Latino as she got back onto her feet. She brushed herself off, as she felt the stare of the boy bore holes through her. She picked up her brand new bike. The boy with the green eyes just flashed a smile at her. As he opened his mouth to say something to her, she grabbed the broadening shoulders of the eleven year old and kissed him on the cheek quickly. Both of their cheeks had become as red as a rose. They made eye contact for only a moment, both of them were very shy.
Gabriella whispered to the boy before she swiftly got back on her birthday bike, heading in the opposite direction, "Thank you, Kevin. But I could've handled him."
A small smirk graced the lips of the eleven year old, green eyed boy. He liked her.
The hero who had saved Gabriella Montez from the bully that day would later become her first everything. Kevin would teach her things about herself she thought she could never learn. He also taught her about building walls around herself. He was the first person to break Gabriella.
The seventeen year old snapped out of the flashback she was having in her head. The trance the small Latino was broken. She pushed the feelings that came rushing back into her body right back out. She didn't want this feeling. The feeling of loving that guy who had screwed her over so many times for someone who didn't know him like she did.
The small Latino made her way back to where her father's office was, she had to take inventory of the store before she did anything else. She didn't want to, but she knew she had to.
10:23am.
Troy knew he had to be early for this job interview.
He'd spent most of his morning stressing and running all over his apartment as he searched for the things he needed to present at this job. He wasn't quite sure what he should do in order to impress the people who owned his town's most productive self owned business. His father had gotten him the interview weeks before hand because he knew the owner of the small business. His father had said that the owner needed more employers.
His truck came to a halting stop as it sent Troy forward in the seat. His blue eyes glanced up at the sign, it read in giant red and black letters "C&G's Hardware." Troy closed his gorgeous eyes and set back in the seat of his truck. He silently prayed to himself that everything would go alright. He prayed that the interview would go amazing. And the owner, Carlos, would hire him.
As he got out of his old beat up truck, he closed the door loudly. This even scared Troy. He jumped a little, and his heart began to beat faster in his built chest. He didn't understand why he was so nervous. It's only a job interview, he kept saying to help himself build up enough confidence to walk up the steps of the hardware store.
His smooth large hand pushed open the door of the hardware store, a bell going off as he entered. He quickly checked his watch. 10:27am. He was almost fifteen minutes early for the interview. Troy smiled to himself a little because he at least got that right.
10:27am
As Gabriella sulked in her father's office, she began took out the important book keeping of her father's business place. Just as she sat down on the giant leather chair, she heard the door open a bell indicating the front entrance of the store had been opened, she became very confused. Slowly, she got up from the oversized wooden desk her dad had kept in his office, she began to make her way to the front where the bell had come from.
She expected to see her father, Carlos standing there in his usual work uniform but she didn't see the most important man of her life standing in the center of the store. Instead she saw a tall, tan, blue eyed guy dressed in a nice tie and dress pants. He was holding a folder in his left hand. Immediately, they both became very confused, expecting to see the middle aged Latino man, Carlos Montez.
Their eyes met almost instantly as they recovered from the confusion. A sensation being sent through both of them as their gaze intensified. The blue orbs of Troy had bore into Gabriella's chocolate eyes. They both stared at each other for a moment before either of them spoke.
Gabriella was standing behind the counter that sat near the entrance. Troy on the other side, closer to the door. He had barley just made it in before he heard the small footsteps of the Latino approach him.
Troy's began to scan what he could see of Gabriella's fit body, her curves being hidden under the gray oversized cardigan that she wore on the fall day. Her dark brown hair fell perfectly over her shoulders. Each ringlet curl a beauty of it's own. Her bangs lay perfectly on her forehead. He thought she was beautiful.
Gabriella had been doing the same thing as Troy was. Her mocha eyes first attaching to the blue eyes that were now focused on something else. His hair was swept perfectly to the side. Each hair being perfect in it's own sense. Her eyes then began to travel down his fit body. He was built beautifully, she commented in her head. His arms were sculpted in the dress shirt that was buttoned up his chest. The yellow tie Troy had worn for this day lay perfectly on his toned chest. She felt herself become weak in the knees as the two made eye contact once again. This time, there was words mixed between the two. Troy spoke, softly.
"Hi, I'm looking for Carlos Montez?" He questioned his voice cracking slightly as he, stepped forward toward the brunette who still stood like a statute behind the counter. As he got closer to the beautiful figure before him he took in her invigorating scent. It was a mix of fresh cotton and perfume. He hated when girls were drenched in perfume.
Gabriella broke out of her trance of looking at the model like boy in front of her. She realized that he had spoke about her father. She nodded her flowing curls moving as she , confirmed that the attractive stranger was in the right place. "That's my dad. He should be coming in soon." She said with confidence as she found an excuse to make eye contact with the blue eyed beauty in front of her. She spoke again, beginning to feel more comfortable. "Do you need him for something?" She questioned slightly, the scent of the shaggy brown haired boy entering her nose. She signed to herself almost as if the small brunette was in heaven. She moved her hand to her dark curly hair, pushing the bangs back past her eyes.
Troy found the girl he didn't even know the name of to be completely adorable as she played with her hair. He nodded, his hair falling slightly over his gorgeous eyes. "I have a job interview with him today," He said in a hesitate voice, before he reached up to scratch the back of his neck. It was a nervous habit he had picked up from his father, Jack
All Gabriella could do without throwing herself over the counter and thrusting her tiny body into the arms of the attractive stranger, she nodded. Although, she didn't recall her dad saying anything to her about a job interview with an attractive male today, she went along with it. "He usually comes in at about a quarter to eleven."
Troy nodded, as he licked his bottom lip. He wanted to take the small Latino in his arms and just hold her at this moment in time. "Thank you," He said flashing his white teeth at her. Gabriella basically melted at this. She had never seen such perfect teeth before. Again, the blue eyed stranger spoke to her, "I'm Troy Bolton, by the way," He stated, his smooth hand reaching out to shake the small Latino's hand.
Troy Bolton, Gabriella thought. Bolton. She knew someone by that name before. But she of course ignored it, and took Troy's hand in her own. A spark instantly was sent through both of them. They didn't exactly know what was going on. But they both equally enjoyed it. "Gabriella Montez," She said quietly as she was still taken back by the spark she felt between her and Troy. Something she never felt before. It was like what you would see in movies, the gallant knight offering himself to the damsel. "It's nice to meet you," She finished saying very softly into the thick air.
"You as well, Ms. Montez," Troy said with such charm. Their eyes locked in a gaze. Blue bore into brown. They both secretly agreed that they could never get tired of what was happening between the two strangers at that exact moment. They just stood there, staring into each other's eyes. Never once breaking, until they heard a noise coming from the back of the hardware store.
Carlos Montez had entered the small building. Gabriella was the first to let go of their small embrace, as she turned to walk to the back of the small office her dad had kept. "Daddy, someone's here to see you," She said in such an innocent voice that made Troy grow with happiness. The voice that graced his ear drums was so sweet sounding.
Carlos made his way to the front of the store where Troy stood. Although, his eyes followed the hypnotizing brunette that he had only met moments before. She had disappeared into the small office that she emerged from when she first appeared to him.
"You must be Troy," Carlos said with authority. He was dressed in a black shirt, with the same design Gabriella had plastered across the front of her shirt. His hair was beginning to turn a gray color. He was a big man. His eyes matched the ones of the beautiful female he had just met. His facial features almost matching hers exactly. He was much older then her, the wrinkles in his face very evident. But he looked harmless, and that he was. "Jack's son?" He questioned as he stuck his large hand out to greet the youngest Bolton boy. Troy nodded as her firmly grasped the hand of Carlos.
"That's my dad," Troy said as he nervously laughed. "And me," He added. Carlos let out a small laugh that was so jolly. It reminded Troy of the Santa that he would sit on the lap of around Christmas time at the mall.
"You good with tools and such, son?" He said raising an eyebrow at the attractive Bolton. Troy swallowed nervously as he nodded.
"I am my dad's son," Troy referenced his father again, this sent Carlos into another chuckle. The large Latino man nodded, sending a smile at Troy. The smile matched that of Gabriella's.
"Well, this really isn't much of an interview now is it?" Carlos laughed at his own joke. Troy joined him. Nervously, he reached up to fix the yellow tie that was around his neck. Carlos continued to speak, "But how about you start on Monday? My daughter, Gabriella, who I guess you already met, will be here to work with you."
Troy's beautiful face lit up so fast when Carlos had given such a great opportunity. The blue eyed boy stuck his hand out again, to shake the hand of the gorgeous Latino girl's father. "Thank you so much, Mr. Montez," Troy said gratefully.
"Call me Carlos," He said with a hardly chuckle as a smile graced the lips of Gabriella's dad.